Dispenser



April 25, 1933. E. G. WESSMAN DI SPENSER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1- Filed Dec. 6.1930 Edwzh 6 WEE Smart April 25, 9 4 E. G. WESSMAN 1,905,613

DISPENSER Filed Dec. 6; 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gww/ntov .Edwzh Z22 Wssmamdbtomaqo Patented Apr. 25, 1933 UNITED sums sY'LvAnI means PATENT emce iEnwnv e. wnssiy'mn, on 'EAsr'oN, rnNnsYLvAnia, essrenon ToninivInnaLn-itmk; me our COMPANY, Ind or nas'ron, PENNSYLVANIA, Acoaronarrononrnnm v DISPENSER Application 'file'd December s, 1930.Serial ire-500,641.

My invention relates tonew and useful improvementsv 1n dispensers .moreparticularly,

adapted for-dispensing receptacl'essuch as paper cups or the like.

The principal object of the invention resides in the provision of novelmeans for properly holding astaok of nested articles 1 and forfeedingthe'same to position to be dispensed, said: means including afollower adapted to be received on. the stack and of a size to normallyoperate freely within a dome or container in which the stack ishousedwith its'outer surface .or edge 1n such close proximity to the innerwallor surface ofthe dome or container as to prevent swinging movementof-the upper end of the stack, it being understood that by a slightlateral movement of the follower the same would engage the wall of thedome or container.

A further object of the invention consists in providing a follower of aconstruction adapted to encircle the uppermost article of the stack,said follower being formed interiorly so as to properly seat the end ofthejarticle therein and to snugly engage the outer surface of thearticle.

Still another objectof the invention reside in the formation of the domeor container as well as the follower in such a manner that the followerwill at all times be retained within the dome or container and will notbe removed from the, container or dome even when all of the articles ofthe stack have-been dispensed, this allowing the follower to always bepositioned. within the container or dome and to be engaged by. thearticle or articles .when a new supply is positioned within the dome orcontainer.

VVith the above and other objects in view, which will appear as thedescription proceeds, my invention consists inthe novel'details ofconstruction andarrangement of parts, de-

scribed in the following specification and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, and while I have illustrated and described thepreferred embodiments of the invention, as they now appear to me, itwill be understood that such changes may be made as will fall within thescope of the appended claims.

Inthe drawings V I 7 machine with my improved form of follower inposition. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan of thefollowerq:

Fig. 3 is asection on the line 3 3 of F ig.-1" with the articles to bedispensed shown in elevation. u a V Fig. 4 1 is a transverse verticalsection through a portion of the base .of the machine and dome orcontainer for the stack, my iir'iproved form of follower being shownkinele vation and in position within the 'containeror dome after all of thearticles of the stack have been removed.

Fig. 1 is a front elevation ofadispensing Fig. 5 is, a fragmentalvertical section through a dome or container and ;a modified form of myfollower with a portion-ofa-stack oflarticlessliown inside elevation.5;; v;

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan of the modified farm of-follower; and J J .1 f

Fig. '7 is a fragmental vertical: section through a portion ofadome orhousing, with my modified form of follower shown in side elevation, thedome or housing being shown lI]l inverted position to receive a stack ofarti- 0 es. l z

In the drawings 1 indicates a base of azdispensing machine in whichanydesired form of article engaging and vdispensing.mechanism may bepositioned and operatedin any suitable manner such as by a lever which II have indicated generally at 2, However-,git

will be understood that the dispensing mechtion and,: if desired, thebase-may be ofthat type used .inithe so-called-pull type: of dispenserin which the terminalarticle is adaptas of glass although I- wish. itunderstood that it may equally as well be .Inadeof metal or any othersuitable material.-. *The articles anism formsno partof-the'presentinvenforming the stack 4 are shown in nestedformation withtheiropen ends positioned {towards thedispensing openingof thebase,thearticles also being shown as of: tapered formation with a rim or beadformed around the open end to be engaged by the fingers or suitabledispensing mechanism. A. metal ring or band 5 surrounds the lower end ofthe dome or container and is secured thereto by plaster of Paris 6 orother suitable material. The ring or band 5 is adapted to be received,with the lower end of the dome or container, within the open top of thebase 1 and to limit the downward movement thereof, with the dome orcontainer, an outwardly directed flange 7 is formed around the upperedge of the ring or band and normally engages the upper edge or top ofthe base 1, as shown more particularly in Fig. 1 of the drawings. Thelower end of the ring or band 5 is formed with an inwardly directedflange 8 having its innersurface inclined as shown at 9, for a purposeto be later de scribed, and with its inner edge 10 terminating inwardlyof the interior diameter of the dome or container 3. The purpose of thiswill be later apparent.

At a I have indicated generally my improved form of follower which is ofringlike formationinc'luding the tapered wall 11,

the outwardly directed horizontal flange 12 formed on its upper edge,and the flared portion or apron 13 formed at the lower edge.

The rim or follower is adapted to surround the upper end of the stack ofarticles as shown more particularly in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings,and the inclined wall 11 will engage the outer surface of the uppermostarticle of the stack, the wall 11 being inclined would bring thearticles of the stack out of direct vertical position or out ofalignment one relative to the other. By the use of this form of followerthestack will be urged towards the base or dispensing opening of themachine, the follower being of suflicient weight to serve this purpose.I

In order that the follower may always be positioned readyfor usethelower edge of the flared portion or apron 13 is of slightly greaterdiameter than the opening at the lower end of the ring or hand 5. Asshown more particularly in Fig. 4 of the drawings when 'all of thearticles are removed from the device or machine the lower edge of thefollower or ring will engage the inner-edge 10 of the flange 8 formed onthe ring or band 5. By

holding the follower at all times within the dome or container there isno chance for loss or for the user to neglect to place the same withinthe dome or container when replenishing with articles. As the articlesare being placed in the dome or container,.through the lower open endthereof, the innermost article and the end of the stack of articles willbe guided by the inclined portion or apron 13 to project through theopening in the follower and to be engaged by the wall 11.

In Figs. 5, 6 and 7 of the drawings I have illustrated a slightlymodified form of my invention wherein the follower while encircling theupper end of the stack is closed at 1ts top and cooperates with theclosed end of the dome or container to form 'an air cushion when thedome or containeris in inverted position as shown in Fig. 7. It is theusual practice, in replenishing the dome or container with articles, toinvert the dome and to allow the articles to drop therein. Naturallywhen the dome'or container is inverted-the "follower drops to the closedend'thereof andit is desirable to provide :means whereby the followerwill not impart a sharpblow to. the

"end of the dome or container, this being of particular advantage whenthe dome or container is formed of glass. The outer edge or wall of thefollower is in closeproximity :to

the inner wall of the dome or-container and as the follower is movedtowards the closed end of the inverted container or dome only a smallportion of air is'allowed to pass around Thus air is trapped between 4depending circumferentially extending, side edge 15, and the inwardlydirected ri The inner edges of the ribs 16 are tapered or inclined asshown at 17 to guide theend of the stack of the follower and slightlybeveled or inclined as shown at 18 to conform to the taper of the bodyofthearticles or receptacles. By reference to Fig. 5 it will be seen thatthe top 14 of the follower will rest directly upon the top of the stackwith the flange 15 surrounding the upper end of the stack and the edges18 of the ribs 16 in such close proximity to the outer surface of theterminal article .as to prevent swinging of the stack relative to thefollower; 'At the same time the outer surface of the follower is in suchclose proximity to the inner surface of the dome or container as toallow but a very slight lateral movement of the follower within the domeor container although allowing free vertical movement thereof. The outerdiameter'of the modified form of follower is such as to prevent thepassage thereof through the open end of the dome or container it beingunderstood that when all of the articles have been dispensed that thelow- 10 on the inwardly directed projection 81 of the ring or flange 5carried by the lower end of the dome.

From the above detail description it is Ii thought that theconstruction, operation, and advantages of my invention will be clearlyunderstood. It will be seen that the follower at all times holds thearticles of the stack in true vertical position, acts as a weight for 10feeding the articles'to the dispensing opening or mechanism and will beretained within the dome or container even when all of the articles havebeen removed. At the same time the formation of the follower allows forthe 15 end of the stack to be guided thereto when Having fully describedmy invention what 7 I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patentis 1. In combination with a dispenser including a housing for a stack ofarticles to be dis-- pensed, a ring-like follower adapted to besupported by the stack and to receive the upper. end thereof whichprojects therethrough, said follower having a central tapered portionengageable with the body of the article, a horizontal flange on theupper end, and an outwardly flared portion on the lower end, the edge ofthe horizontal flange and the edge of the flared portion extending intoclose proximity to the inner surface of the housing.

2. In combination withadispenserincluding a base, a readily removablehousing normally supported by the base and adapted to receive a stack ofthe articles to be dispensed, said housing having a closed end and anopen end adapted to register with a dispensing opening the housingextending inwardly to overlie the interior diameter of the housing butpermitting dispensing of the articles, and a follower operable in thehousing and adapted to be supported by the stack of articles, thefollower being of a diameter permitting sliding movement in the housingbut adapted to be engaged by the inwardly directed projection at theopen end of the housing whereby it will be held within the confines ofthe housing when all of the articles of the stack have been dispensed orwhen the housing is removed from the base.

3. In combination with a dispenser'including a base, a readily removablehousing nor.-

mally supported by the base and adapted to in the base, a projection atthe open end of receive a stack of the articles to be dispensed, saidhousing having a closed end and an open 'endadapted to register with adispensing opening in the base, a ring-like member surrounding the openend of the housing and provided at its upper end with an outwardydirected flange adapted to engage and overlie 1 the base and at itslower end with an inwardly projecting flange overlying the interiordiameter of the housing but permitting dispensing of the articlestherethrough, and a follower operable in the housing and adapted to besupported by the stack of articles, the follower being of a diameterpermitting sliding movement in the housing but adapted to be engaged bythe inwardly directed flange of.

the ring at the open end of the housing whereby it will be held withinthe confines ofthe housing when all of the articles of the stack havebeen dispensed or when the housing is removed from the base. 7 I

In testimonywhereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

EDWIN G. WESSMAN.

